Unity

Unity

By Pastor Gary Wayne

I’m not sure if anyone of us get how important unity is to the Father’s heart.
In His last prayer session with the Father, Jesus prayed for unity for us. Jn.17:20-23

Satan knows that a house divided against itself will fall. He also knows if we come together in the unity, we'll arrive at the full stature of Christ Jesus (Eph. 4:11-14).
So, I think he has assigns a spirit of division to operate in our lives, our church, our community. His goal is the same as it was in Corinth: to bring division, and to stunt spiritual growth.

I want to look at the topic of unity in the scripture we usually read when we take communion together.
Text:1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Communion is such a powerful topic, with many layers and aspects.
I want to unpack ver. 29-30 just a bit.
I have studied this verse for many years, and every time I read this text, it makes me realize this is a serious issue.

As you know, Paul uses the term “body of Christ” in different ways.
In this section, Paul refers to the actual physical body of Jesus, but also is referring to us as a group, the followers of God are the “body of Christ.”

The phrase in ver.29 flashes at me – “not discerning the Lord’s body.”
NASB - “if he does not properly recognize the body.”

Is Paul referring to the “physical body of Christ” or the” church?” Yes.
I think the warning of 29-30 takes in both ways one can take communion.
If I take communion just casually, as a religious activity, not remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for me, that’s a problem - I need to examine my heart.
And if I take communion and don’t realize Paul’s emphasis that this is an activity to bring unity to the church body, that’s a problem - I need to examine my heart.

In studying this passage, I need to remember 1 Corinthians was a letter written to the church at Corinth and did not have chapters and verses.
So in reading this verse about communion, we jumped right in the middle of a major problem Paul was addressing with this group of believers.

Let’s look at the problem going on. 1Co.11:17-22
Paul is saying that the Corinthians made a mockery of the Lord’s Supper. What was taking place was something like: They would gather together at someone’s house to worship. And they would usually meet at a wealthy person’s home who would fix a fellowship meal together, and in that setting of worshiping together, they would take communion together as well. But what was happening, is the first people to get there would not wait for the others – usually people who had to work for a living, or slaves who were busy working – the less wealthy. They would start without them, eat all the food, actually get drunk, then take the Lord’s meal together without out thinking about others – or the complete meaning Jesus intended.

Lets go back in this letter just a bit more: 1Co.10:16-17.
Reading this part, lets us see that the context of this whole section about communion has to do a little bit with the actual body and blood of Jesus, but the context of chapter 10 & 11 is also referring to the unity of the body of Jesus – His followers.
This division around the Lord’s Table is why Paul says that the Corinthians were taking the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner.

What do I feel God is saying to Faith Chapel this morning?
We can see from Paul’s stern warnings that this is not a trivial problem.
If there are divisions in my life with others, divisions in our church group, divisions in our community’s church body, we need to realize the seriousness and not ignore the issues.

I constantly need to be reminded that our battle is not against people / individuals.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

I sense God is wanting to break the enemy’s tactic to bring division this morning.
Division in my life, division in this body of FC, division in our community of believes in S.L.

I felt God instructing us to take communion this morning with specific intentions.
* For us to pray for and invite the spirit of unity.
* And to rebuke and pray against the spirit division.

God, I want a tender heart towards You.
I want what causes Your heart to cry to make my heart cry.
Forgive me for justifying my behaviors that are hostile towards You.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps 139:23-24

Today we come against any spirit of division that has worked in my life.
In this group of followers of Jesus. In the community of believers in Seeley Lake.

We pray for the Spirit of unity to be released in our life, in this body, in our community.